Fuse with thin film fusible element supported on a substrate

Abstract

A fuse including a fuse casing, an end cap terminal at an end of the casing, a substrate supporting a thin film fusible element thereon, and a springy metal connecting strip made of sheet metal and providing electrical connection between the element and the terminal and mechanical support for the substrate.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A fuse comprising a fuse casing,   an end cap terminal at an end of said casing,   a substrate supporting a thin film fusible element thereon and located within said casing, and   a springy metal connecting strip made of sheet metal and providing electrical connection between said element and said terminal and mechanical support for said substrate,   said substrate having an end spaced from said end cap terminal, said connecting strip biasing said substrate away from said end cap terminal.   
     
     
       2. The fuse of claim 1 further comprising another end cap terminal at another end of said casing and a second springy metal connecting strip made of sheet metal and providing electrical connection between said element and said another end cap terminal and additional mechanical support for said substrate, said substrate having a length that is less than the distance between said end cap terminals. 
     
     
       3. A fuse comprising a fuse casing,   an end cap terminal at an end of said casing,   a substrate supporting a thin film fusible element thereon and located within said casing, and   a springy metal connecting strip made of sheet metal and providing electrical connection between said element and said terminal and mechanical support for said substrate,   wherein said connecting strip engages said substrate on two surfaces thereof and has two end portions that engage opposite sides of said fuse casing.   
     
     
       4. The fuse of claim 1 wherein said substrate is made of a rigid material. 
     
     
       5. The fuse of claim 4 wherein said substrate is made of ceramic material. 
     
     
       6. The fuse of claim 3 further comprising solder used to connect said connecting strip to said substrate. 
     
     
       7. A fuse comprising a fuse casing,   an end cap terminal at an end of said casing,   a substrate supporting a thin film fusible element thereon and located within said casing, and   a springy metal connecting strip made of sheet metal and providing electrical connection between said element and said terminal and mechanical support for said substrate,   wherein the said connecting strip includes a first portion that extends from an end of said fuse casing toward the other end a first distance and a second portion that is connected to the first and extends in the reverse direction to the end of the substrate a second distance which is shorter than the first distance so as to tend to position said substrate away from said end cap terminal.   
     
     
       8. The fuse of claim 7 wherein said first portion makes an acute angle with a surface of the substrate, and said strip has a third portion that connects said first portion to said second portion and is substantially perpendicular to the substrate. 
     
     
       9. The fuse of claim 2 further comprising a fiber washer between said connecting strip and an inner surface of said end cap terminal. 
     
     
       10. The fuse of claim 1 further comprising arcquenching material substantially filling said fuse casing. 
     
     
       11. The fuse of claim 1 wherein said fusible element has been deposited. 
     
     
       12. The fuse of claim 2 wherein said fuse casing is cylindrical, and said substrate is rectangular.